Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi recently spoke to a group of 400 Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants at the National Guard Bureau’s 2011 Joint Chaplain Conference in Washington.  She praised the Chaplains and lauded their roles in

The Chaplain Corps is one of the best tools to help fight the rise in military suicides, Pelosi said. 

“Nobody has a better finger on the pulse of the well-being of the troops, whether it be strength through their faith or their morale, than each and every one of you,” she said.

The Congresswoman appeared to understand the role of Chaplains goes beyond their denominational religious endorsement, though others have criticized the military’s use of Chaplains in the counseling role.  When Rep Pelosi was leaving,

Army Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, chief of the U.S. Army’s Chaplain Corps, led the room in prayer for Pelosi.

Via the Army Chaplaincy blog.